Submitted by
bigmike
a Cross Country Rider
from schenectady, new york
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2010
Strengths: Massive, beautiful welds, ultra stiff, indestructable. Point & shoot. This frame does it all. BEST HARDTAIL EVER.
Weaknesses: ZERO.NADA.ZIP.NOTHING
Bottom Line:
I bought this frame used in 1998. (it's a '97) It's been ridden consistantly over the last 12 years that I've owned it. That's about 35,000 miles of everything you can imagine; racing, commuting, pulling trailers, camping, & just abusing the crap out of it. I will never sell this frame. My kids (18 & 16) are fighting over it when I die. Too bad for them. I'm having it buried with me so I can ride it in hell.
Similar Products Used: gary fisher, klein, 'dale, etc.
Bike Setup: everything from full xtr cross country set up to single speed cyclocross racer. It does it all.
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Submitted by
GCRad1
a Cross Country Rider
from Costa Mesa, California, USA
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2009
Strengths: The Zaskar frame is STRONG!!! I purchased my ZASKAR in 1995 and still ride it to this day [Dec 2009] Yes, this puppy is OLD and still going strong!!! I ride the Whiting Ranch, Fullerton Loop, San Juan, SaddleBack-Luge and Aliso, Crystal Cove Trails here in Southern California so it has seen it's fair share of abuse.
Weaknesses: ? WHAT'CHA TALKIN BOUT WILLIS!? NOT WEAK!
Bottom Line:
SOLID - COOL and OLD SCHOOL! But all my full-suspension noob's are building hard-tails... in 2009!
Check out my thread here on mtbr in the GT section "GT Zaskar Cali Edition"
Similar Products Used: specialized hardrock, kona blast - zaskar outstrips them all
Bike Setup: Had it now for 8+ years, gone through a number of sets of front & rear cogs and mechs, a new set of wheels after wearing all the way through the sides with many years of harsh braking ;-)
Now running Rock Shox Judy front sus, LX front & rear brakes from Deore LX all-in-one levers (these are the dogs - one lever - squeeze to brake, push up + down to change)XT front mech LX rear (sorry, couldn't afford replacement XT at the time) mech, mach 1 wheels on mach hubs and FireXCpro tyres, shimano 525? SPD's, and a Cateye Tripleshot.
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Submitted by
Bog
a Cross Country Rider
from Holmfirth, England
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2008
Strengths: Fantastic stiff, strong frame which goes well with the new Marzocchi MX LO Pro 120mm fork, Climbs and descends beautifully with precision and confidence.
Weaknesses: 1993 USA built frame so no rear disc mount but cured before I bought it with a A2Z adapter to run Shimano XT disc brakes. So NONE really
Bottom Line:
As an XC machine for either long rides or a short blast this bike delivers in every respect. It's stiff, fairly light, really strong, goes just where you point it, it eats hills either up or down and leaves other bikes, including many full suspension in it's wake.
Similar Products Used: GT Tmberline (my first GT), wife's Marin Bear Valley SE (circa 1995) wife's new 2008 Kona Blast Deluxe
Bike Setup: 1993 USA built Zaskar LE, 2008 Marzocchi MX LO Pro 120mm fork, Race Face Evolve crank with X type BB, XT front and Deore rear mech, Shimano XT discs front and rear, Easton EA stem and carbon fibre riser, Mavic X117 rims, Panaracer Fire XC tyres
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Submitted by
Laura
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2007
Strengths: Stiff, responsive, light, indestructible.....This bike has taken me from newbie racer to enduro fanatic and technical rider.
Weaknesses: None - other than the paint started coming off as soon as I bought it in 2000. Oh yeah, and it's stiff, so you won't like it if you want plush. I'm getting older so that is the only downside for me.
Bottom Line:
Love this bike. It actually fits me (that's saying a lot) and I am going to ride it until it breaks. I have raced XC on it for 7 years, done some enduro races on it, beat the snot out of it, etc....If you can get one of these (pre-2001) you will be doing yourself a HUGE favor. If you have been riding a dual susp. this bike will teach you how to maneuver even better (there's no room for error) and increase your race speed on your dual.
Bike Setup: XTR rear, LX front / shifters. SRAM 9.0 brakes, Avid levers, Mavic 517 rims and XTR hubs, old SID
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Submitted by
art garza
a Cross Country Rider
from san antonio
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2006
Strengths: Strenght to weight ratio. Frame is ultra stiff and indestructible. Beautiful ball burnished finish with great decals. Best hardtail on the planet.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I am fortunate to own this piece of pure Southern California machined artwork. This frame has the most beautiful welds I've ever seen on any aluminum frames out there. I have a true pre-bankruptcy American made GT Zaskar that I will ride till I die. I am sure that it will outlast anything that I can throw at it. I am opting for a Gary Fisher HI-FI Pro Full Suspension but will never give up my Zaskar. Bombproof.
Similar Products Used: New zaskars, Cove, Trance 2 etc.
Bike Setup: Just refitted in xt and waiting new 07 (time or writing) reba or manitou 7.
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Submitted by
Clay
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2006
Strengths: Divine race geometry. No flex, no excuses. Indestructable
Weaknesses: Not the lightest frame. So stiff it hurts, but in a good way
Bottom Line:
For all-out cross-country shredding, you cannot beat this frame. They are dirt cheap on eBay and build up to easily sub 23-24 pound warriors. Nothing will ever climb or thread like this frame. It is so dialed in everything else feels like novocaine. Do yourself a favor and take one for a rip.
Strengths: Great welding, and nice polished finish. No frame flex, a great climber and equally great descender, a genuine USA made 16" Zaskar that i've had from new. Easton 'e' logo stamped in top tube looks cool.
Weaknesses: 1998 frame so no disc mounts - fixed by using an A2Z disc adapter (a perfect fit). Bottom bracket cable routing is a pain, can get clogged with mud. Stiff rear end can be uncomfy after a few hours riding. Needs polish every once in a while!
Bottom Line:
A hugely versatile frame that will take you on XC loops and can also handle drops and jumps. Built up with the right parts it can still keep up with the new breed of 'hardcore freeride' hardtails. No other frame will quite have the same image as the Zaskar.
Similar Products Used: Palomar, independent fabrication
Bike Setup: Club Roost bars, mavic Crossmax SL tubeless wheels, chris king headset, The Stem stem, hutchinson python rear, Michelin wildgripper front, white industries trials bike cranks, XTR rear Der., sram 9 speed cassette, XTR shifters/brakes (dual control), thomson masterpiece seatpost, Manitou Black TPC lockout 100/120 mm fork
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Submitted by
Alan
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2005
Strengths: This bike is stiff and I really like it for the two years I have had it (before it broke {see weakness}). I got this frame brand new. This frame is made in USA (not Taiwan or China) where new GT frames are. Great handling.
Weaknesses: The frame cracked after two years of crosscountry riding at where the seat tube and the top tube meets. I weight 175lbs and I just do XC riding. ***NOTE that the crack is at the TUBE! NOT THE WELDING! So this is MATERIAL PROBLEM not the welding by GT. This frame is 6061 material unlike the newer Zaskar which are made of Easton Tubing. This frame will not accept rear disc brake no matter what kind of adapter you used for it. Not even QR ones will work.
Bottom Line:
I build this bike myself and its totally customize. I didn't do any dirt jumping or big drops of any kind. It was just one day when I finish riding some XC trails with friends and as we were chilling, we check over people bikes and found the crack on my frame. At first it shocked me as I thought GT Zaskar is a really stiff and strong frame as I have used it two years myself and read many review about it. I don't know what to say to "you" & myself now besides its "not strong" I guess. I currently have three other GT frames and wonder if I should get rid of them as well and this happened. I have seen GTs at high and low price for the Zaskar. I have seen used Zaskar in similar conditions ranging from $100 USD - $600 USD for resale market which was a bit confusing. After all, this frame worked good before it cracked. I will try to do some welding at the area that crack but will need a new frame soon for sure. If you want cheap strong frame that last you two years and you just bike for fun, this is for you. If you are a pro racer and do drop offs and jumps, I guess not. I also heard from a friend saying GT frames are always like this and he said he saw many like this before that are GTs. He said they are really fragile.
Similar Products Used: Giant, Kona, Norco, Trek, Klein, GT, Rocky Mountain, KHS, Canadian Tires POS (supercycle, CCM)
Bike Setup: Chris King hubs Chris King headset Magura HS33 hydro rim brakes Mavic 618/517 rims Fox Fork - Float RLC 80 Nokian NBX 2.1 tires rear Continental Explore front tire Thomson Elite Stem Thomson Elite setback seatpost Profile design carbon riser handlebar XT cassttte XT rear Derailleur XT front Derailleur XT Crankset XT Bottom Bracket XT shifters XTR Chain XTR Wires Cane Creek bar ends Louis G grips Selle saddle Salsa quick release DT spokes Time ATAC carbon pedals Ti - water bottle cage
price in british pounds (£)...SWEET BIKE TO RIDE...REAL HEAD TURNER...EVERYBODY WANTS A GO OF IT...its an xc frame after all isnt it ? ive done xc on it and its great, light, fast and responsive...i do jumps on it, im crap at landings and it still comes back for more, even when i dont, total build price around £800 cant buy a better stock bike for the price ! im very happy with it so its getting 5 + 5 from me...
Bought this in 1997. Since then every component has been been upgraded & replaced as my disposable income (and bike perv tendencies) have increased.
Never felt the need to change the frame though. Fits right, climbs great, downhills and takes lots of abuse (including some big stacks), but is light and rigid enough to go roadie in winter with bigger gears & slicks.
Similar Products Used: Orange p7, Kona Explosif, Marin IFT
Bike Setup: Xt/XTR with lots of bling
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Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Buford, Ga, USA
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2004
Strengths: Great frame while it lasted.
Weaknesses: Frame got stress fractures at the bottom of the seat tube and on the right chain stay.
Bottom Line:
When I purchased my bike It came with a lifetime warrenty. When it broke I called The new owners of Gt and was told that the warrenty had been reduced to a one year warrenty because GT had bankrupted. The customer service rep did offer to sell me a 2003 left over frame for $300.00. I bought a "new" Kona Kula Deluxe frame for $329.00 from Slippery Pig Bike Shop in Phoenix Az. "No Thanks GT"!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not that stupid!
Weaknesses: No disc brake mounts,(mine is a mark 1 competition series) doesnt have a rear suspension.
Bottom Line:
this is a good ass frame. its a bit high for my style of riding. i've practicaly broken every part on my bike except for this frame. its more than ten years old but its still as strong as any other hardtail out there. handles well, the only damage i've done on it so far is chipping off the paint on its chainstay. absolutely no regrets on this frame. if you see one, no matter how old or beat up it looks like, get it!
[url]http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/NEW-GT-ZASKAR-PRO-Aluminium-MTB-Frame-16-5-Blue-/230577599504?pt=Mountain_Bikes&hash=item35af7ef410[/url]
[url]http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/NEW-GT-ZASKAR-P Read More »
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I've got a new frame of Zaskar Team '09 but don't have a headset and haven't seen it, bought the frame without one. I don't know size bearings should be. It looks like it's IS with Read More »
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Call me mad or insane for this hardtail.I really want to have one in my collection.And the seller must be willing to ship to Singapore,a asia country.
My criteria are simple:Fra Read More »
